By Miriam Raftery

Photo: “Bootsie,” found dead and mutilated in Lemon Grove, one of several similar cat deaths in recent weeks in East County communities.

September 3, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Residents in Spring Valley, Lemon Grove and Mt. Helix are voicing concerns after several cats were found cut in half, dismembered or eviscerated in recent weeks.  It is not yet known whether the gruesome finds were the result of human acts or animal predators.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jaundice, or yellowed eyes and skin, is one tell-tale sign of Hepatitis.

September 3, 2017 (San Diego) – The Joint Legislative Audit Committee on Thursday approved by a 10-3 vote auditing San Diego County’s Health and Human Service Agency for what Service Employees International calls “dangerously low staffing levels of public nurses.”  

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2017 (San Diego) — The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory in effect now through 10 p.m. tonight do to remnants of Tropical Storm Lidia, now downgraded to a tropical depression. Thunderstorms and rain are also impacting the region with heaviest rainfall likely on Mt. Laguna, where an inch of rain may fall.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 3, 2017 (San Diego) -- Have you ever wondered how firefighters determine which homes to defend and which ones we don’t during a wildfire?

As firefighters, we lay out our plans for the tactical operations before a brush fire by pre-planning our districts. During a brush fire, it’s imperative that we make quick but well-thought-out decisions that reflect life safety issues for both responders and citizens first, followed by property conservation.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Billy Ortiz: El Capitan Dam in Lakeside, ranked “fair” for safety, has an “extremely high “downstream hazard status for potential loss of life and property damage.

September 2, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - The State of California on Friday released data on dam safety in California which found nine percent of dams statewide fall below satisfactory and could pose potential hazards in severe storms or earthquakes—including nine dams in San Diego County.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, left:  Cal Fire, 9/2/2017

Photo, below right: Paula Maness, 9/1/2017

September 2, 2017 (Dulzura) – The Border Fire south of Dulzura is now 75 percent contained and has charred an estimated 130 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The brush fire began yesterday along Highway 94 near Marron Valley Road.It is currently spreading to the northeast and is not expected to impact populations. Firefighters will remain on scene constructing containment lines and  mopping up hot spots.

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  PhotoSpin

September 2, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office warned residents to be careful when donating to charities that promise to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The DA’s Office is offering important consumer advice and information to avoid becoming a victim of charity scams.

East County News Service

September 2, 2017 (Poway) -- The Poway OnStage 2017-2018 season at the Poway Performing Arts Center opens this month with the arena rock of KANSAS. It continues with GRAMMY winning artists: Los Lobos, Aaron Neville, BJ Thomas and Roger McGuinn.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Erik Prince, Blackwater founder

September 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Blackwater founder Erik Prince has been “implicated in murder,” the Nation reports. The article, written by journalist and author Jeremy Scahill, indicates that sworn statements filed in Federal Court on August 3rd allege that the private military company’s founder, Erik Prince launched a “crusade” to eliminate Muslims and Islam.Many East County residents will recall meeting Scahill, who visited Potrero and San Diego back in 2007.  Scahill came to warn local residents about serious ethical issues involving Blackwater, which was aiming to build a paramilitary training camp in a valley in Potrero. 

The Nation article reports that a former Blackwater employee and an ex-Marine who worked as a security operative for Blackwater both made explosive allegations in sworn statements claiming that Prince may have murdered or facilitated the murder of people who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. Their identities are being kept secret for their own protection.

East County News Service

September 1, 2017 (Dulzura) – A Cal Fire helicopter assigned to firefighting on the Border Fire south of Dulzura today made a hard landing in a field adjacent to the brush fire.

The pilot was the sole occupant on board and did not suffer any injuries, Cal Fire reports.

Arnarsdottir scores twice to lead Aztecs

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 1, 2017 (San Diego) - San Diego State received three goals from two true freshman to down crosstown foe San Diego, 3-1, Friday night at SDSU Sports Deck. The Aztecs improved to 2-3 on the season, while the Toreros remained winless in four tries.

East County News Service

September 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re  planning a picnic, barbecue or other outdoor activity this Labor Day weekend, be aware there’s a possibility of widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms due to tropical storm Lidia.

Tropical Storm Lidia has already wreaked havoc in Baja, Mexico, bringing flooding in Cabo San Lucas and closing airports at Cabo and La Paz. Some 20,000 tourists and thousands of residents have been evacuated to shelters there.

Next event is Sept. 21 at Tiramisu Trattoria in La Mesa

September 1, 2017 (La Mesa) – Thanks to all who turned out to help make the launch of our East County Dining Club a big success! 

Over 75 people attend our premiere party  at Fabrison’s Country French Restaurant in  Jamul, where guests feasted on all-you-can-eat crepes and  savored wines from the award-winning Deerhorn Valley Vineyard.

If you haven’t yet joined our dining club (just $10 a year!) we strongly recommend doing so now since we expect future events to sell out.

East County Dining Club members  will receive early invitations and  first options to reserve space at all of our future special culinary events, two free drawing tickets at their next event, and a free “Best of East County” cookbook we are compiling with recipes from top restaurants, wineries, farms and more in our region. Join us to savor the flavors of the world at great restaurants here in East County!

Improvements proposed after ECM investigative series on ambulance response times in unincorporated areas

By Kendra Sitton

August 30, 2017 (Crest) — Last week, County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Administrator Andy Parr met with local communities to ask for input on EMS’s plan to improve ambulance service to the rural parts of San Diego because "the status quo of 30 min is no longer acceptable."

The updated plan goes before the Board of Supervisors on Oct. 10. If approved, when the contracts of the three ambulance companies expire in the next few years, they will have to comply with the new plan which will shorten response time.

The actions follow a five-part special series by East County Magazine published  in 2015, investigating slow ambulance response times in some unincorporated areas and changes in county ambulance providers. (See links to our five-part series at the bottom of this article.)

Photo: Gastil, right, with UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla's Community Advisory Board

By Jonathan Goetz

August 31, 2017 (San Diego) – Lemon Grove resident George Gastil, a professor, former school board and city council member, has been appointed to Chancellor Pradeep Khosla’s Community Advisory Board (CCAB) for the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).